Offer accepted, now the real work starts
Offer accepted is the start, not the finish. The next 8-12 weeks are the legal stage, the survey stage, and the mortgage stage all running in parallel.
Once your offer's accepted, you've got about a week to get three things moving: instruct a solicitor, book a survey, and submit your full mortgage application. Estate agents will push for everything fast because they want their commission.
The survey decision is the one most people don't understand, so let's start there.
The lender will do a 'mortgage valuation' to check the property's worth what they're lending. This report goes to them, not you. It's not a survey. It tells you almost nothing. If you want to know what you're actually buying, you pay for your own survey.
The three RICS Home Survey levels
Level 1, Condition Report. Basic, traffic-light style. Suits new-ish properties in obviously good condition. £300-450. Most buyers should skip this and go to Level 2.
Level 2, HomeBuyer Report. The middle option, and the one most buyers should get. Surveyor walks through, reports on visible issues, often includes a valuation. £400-800. Right for standard properties built in the last 80 years that look in reasonable condition.
Level 3, Building Survey. The thorough one. Detailed inspection, full write-up, advice on repair priorities. £600-1,500+. Right for older properties (pre-1920s), unusual construction (timber-frame, listed, thatched), anything showing signs of wear, or anything where you plan major work.
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Learn more →When you've worked through everything in this stage, mark it complete to track your overall progress.
Found this useful? If you'd rather talk it through with a real broker, book a free chat with DS Financial, the regulated mortgage adviser.
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